Mixed response to new ANU housing

New on-campus accommodation featuring expansive views and a rooftop garden has done little to help solve the problem of affordable student housing, the Australian National University Student Association says.

The university officially opened its newest accommodation lodge on Barry Drive yesterday, the fourth housing block in the $350 million ANU Exchange development.

Named after the widow of late ANU vice-chancellor Peter Karmel, Lena Karmel Lodge offers accommodation for 558 students and has been supported by the Commonwealth under the National Rental Affordability Scheme, allowing rents to be set at 20 per cent below market rates.

However, ANUSA president Fleur Hawes said the rooms, starting at $204 per week, were still too expensive for most students.

''It isn't solving the problem of affordable housing in Canberra,'' she said.

Ms Hawes said the university also failed to offer consultation of the specifics of the university's housing developments.

''There was never a time when students were truly consulted,'' she said.

''It was all very general.''

The ANUSA Housing Review Report 2011 also outlined the increasing costs being shouldered by students to cover the costs of repair work to existing accommodation.

Issued to The Canberra Times yesterday, the report outlined increased tariffs for on-campus housing to cover necessary maintenance work as well as improvements concerning matters such as disabled access to Burgmann and John XXIII colleges.

''Most ANU residences will soon require significant maintenance work for wear and tear that has accrued over the years,'' the report said. ''In addition, maintenance work will also require extensive rebuilding and upgrade work in order to comply with new building codes.''

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young described the continual review and upkeep of on-campus housing, now catering for more than 5000 students, as a challenge.

''One of the challenges for us, particularly with our older halls of residence, is being able to make sure they're maintained and refurbished to the levels we would want while trying to keep the tariffs at a reasonable level,'' he said.

Professor Young also said there had been continued discussion with students about the development of on-campus accommodation, including the design of the lodge.

''As we built each building, we've talked to students about what works, what doesn't work. The design of each of them has evolved to actually respond to what students think are important.''